Dispensing apparatus



June 3', 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1944 Illllllll L June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1944 fave/72227" 7720mm ff/amzifam M fly gf I June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMIL,TON

DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3, 1944 Sqw Q3 k kw June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 3, 1944 II I I II INVENTQR. flzomcwi'fiamzlfom A M M June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 3, 1944 June 3, 1952 T, HAMILTON A 2,599,173

DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 3, 1944 llll hr fizz/anion June 3, 1952 T. F. l-iAMlLTON "DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. 27mm FbamZZZ'OTZ I June 3, 1952 T, HAMlLTON 2,599,173

' DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 3, 1944 l0 Sheets-Sheet 8 [fat/anion- T/zomaa Fflamaliam June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 3, 1944 INVENIOR. 'Ihomaa [Harm Zia 77/,

June 3, 1952 T. F. HAMILTON DISPENSING APPARATUS 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed May 3, 1944 Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS Thomas F. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,829

9 Claims. (o1.194-) The present invention relates to improvements in dispensing apparatus. 7

More particularly the present invention relates to apparatus for holding a plurality of hottles or similar articles and for dispensing them in succession when a coin or token is deposited.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus adapted for holding a plurality of kinds or brands of articles, said apparatus providing the customer with the option of selecting any of the different kinds of article contained in said apparatus.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus in which bottles or the like may be compactly arranged and efliciently dispensed upon the operation of certain mechanism responsive to the deposition of a coin, token or the like. V

A further object is 'to provide an improved dispensing apparatus in which various types of bottled beverages or the like may be compactly arranged in various groups, said apparatus having the advantage that the customer, through the operation of simple mechanism, may select any one of said bottled beverages and cause the dispensing thereof.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus which is simple to load, has a large capacity, and will deliver the bottles or the like with a minimum of shock thereto.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus having motive means for causing the delivery of a bottle or the like, which apparatus has the advantage of certainty of action without requiring a powerful motor.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus adapted to selectively dispense bottled beverages of difierent kinds, having coin return mechanism operative to return the customers coin in the event that the particular bottled beverage which the customer selects has been exhausted.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus having simple and sturdy dispensing mechanism which is cheap and sturdy in construction and not likely to get out of order.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing apparatus which is compact and which affords efficient mechanism for disposing of empty bottles or the like.

A further object is to provide a dispensing apparatus well adapted to meet the needs of such apparatus in every day service.

A further object is to provide an improved dispensing refrigerator which is cheap to construct, has a high capacity for bottles of difierent brands,

is not likely to get out of order, and is simple to operate.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of one embodiment of the present invention, parts being broken away to show a portion of the interior;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 66 of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 11 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 represents a detail of construction, said figure being a sectional View taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 5;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation and Figure 11 is a view in end elevation of a detail of the construction shown in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a view in end elevation of the structure shown in Figure 9, said view being taken along the plane indicated by the arrows l2l2 of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows [3-43 of Figure 9;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows l 4-44 of Figure 9;

Figure 15 is a plan view of certain cross members and the belts for operating said cross members, which cross members are adapted to separate and space bottles of any one of the several kinds of bottled beverages in the refrigerator;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of the mechanism for controlling the disposition of the coin or token deposited in the refrigerator by a customer;

Figure 1'7 shows a detail of construction of the mechanism shown in Figure 16;

Figure 18 is an electrical diagram for use in connection with the mechanism illustrated in the preceding figures; and V Figure 19 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows l9l9 of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 20 indicates the casing of a refrigerator or the like having the upper or refrigerating compartment 2 [constituting a refrigerating space for the reception of bottles or other containers to be cooled. Separated from the compartment 2| by the wall 2la (Figure 2) is the compartment 21b for housing certain motive mechanism, to be described presently, for driving the dispensing mechanism. Below the compartments 2| and 26b is a compartment 22 adapted for the reception of empty containers. Below the compartment 22 is the compartment 23 for the reception of a compresser unit and parts associated therewith.

The refrigerating compartment 2! is provided with the doors 24-24 mounted to swing along axes located at the two opposite sides of the easing 20. Said doors 24-24 are controhed by any preferred type of lock.

The compartment 22 adapted to receive empty bottles or the like will be closed at the front by the front wall 25 (Figures 1, 2 and 19), swung about the horizontal axis 26. Said wall 25 is provided with the doors 21-21, to be described presently.

The compartment 23 adjacent to the bottom of casing 20 is provided with the compresser unit 28 connected to the expansion coil 23 (Figures 1 and 2) located .in a chamber 30 disposed in said compartment 23. .Said chamber 30 is part of an aircirculating system including the conduit 30a leading to'the top of the refrigerating compartment 2] and the conduit 301) leading from the compartment 2| into the chamber 30, in which the air is cooled and from which it is again driven up through the conduit 30a, compartment 2| and conduit 30b in a circulatory course. A fan 3| impels said air in its circulatory course.

Located in the refrigerating compartment 2! are a plurality of endless conveyers 32, 33, 34, 35. Each of the conveyers is adapted to carry on the upper side thereof a plurality of bottles or other (elongated) articles lying upon their sides. As shown for example in Figure 6, each conveyer is provided with outstanding dividing members or flanges 36-36, which, as will be explained presently, are so formed that they will compactly hold a plurality of beverage bottles of the usual type, that is, bottles having a body portion of materially greater diameter than the neck portion thereof. Said dividing members or flanges 36 will hold such bottles in positions such that the necks of adjacent bottles will face in opposite directions, so that the neck portion of one bot-. tle pointing in one direction will lie between the neck portions of the two adjacent bottles which point in the opposite direction. In other words, the axes of bottles pointing'in one direction will be located intermediate of the axes of the bottles pointing in the opposite direction. Where otherarticles are to be dispensed, they are stored in alternate staggered relation. A plurality of bottles 31 are indicated in Figure 6, the body portions of said bottles being indicated by the numeral 38, the neck portion being indicated by the numeral 39.

Drive means for the conveyers 32, 33, 34, are provided for selectably driving any of said con-1 veyers in predetermined step by step movements and for stopping each individual conveyer after it has moved through a predetermined step. Mechanism for this purpose will be described presently.

Referring to Figures 3, 7 and 15, the conveyer 32 is illustrated. Inasmuch as the conveyers 32, 33, 34, 35 may be similar in construction, a description of one of said conveyers will suflice for a descriptionof all of them. The conveyer 32 comprises two parallel belts -40 which support a.

plurality of cross members 4la-4lb placed parallel to each other and extending transversely of the casing 20 as shown in Figure 3. Said cross members have end portions 42-42 located outside of the boundaries of said belts 40-40. Said cross members are provided with the outstanding dividing members or flanges 36 above mentioned. As will be noted from an inspection of Figures 3 and 15, each of the cross members 4la-4lb is an elongated metal member having an outstanding dividing member or flange 36 at one of its side edges adjacent to one extremity of the cross member and another outstanding dividing member or flange. 36 at its opposite edge adjacent to the other extremity of said cross member. As shown in Figure 15, the flanges 3-3-36 adjacent to one belt 40 are located along the right edge of cross member Ma and along the left edge of cross member 4"). The flanges 36-36 adjacent to the other belt 40 are located along the left edge of cross member 41a and along the right edge of cross member 411). In other words, considering the flanges at either side of adjacent cross members, said flanges are located at opposite edges of the distant ends of said cross members. This construction .promotes the staggered relation'hip of the bottles 31-31 (or other containers) on the conveyers.

Located interiorly of the conveyer '32 are a pair of belt supports 43 adapted to support the two belts 40-40. Said belt supports 43-43 are supported by 'cross members 44-44 rigid with the outer frame members 44a connected by end frame members 44?). The frame thus formed by members 44a and 44b is slidably supported on members 440 provided on the casing 20 whereby the frames may be readily removed for assembly or repair. A belt conforming or supporting member 45 may be provided for contacting and supporting the lower surfaces of the belts 40-40 at the lowermost portions of said belts. Said belts 40-40 are trained over pulleys 46-46 located adjacent one end of the casing '20 and over pulleys 41-41 7 located adjacent the other end of said casing .20.

The pulleys 46-46 are connected together by means of the shaft 48 and the pulleys 41-43 are connected together by means of the shift 49.

Located adjacent the extremities of the pulleys 46-46 are sprockets 50-50. As indicatedin Figure 7, each of said sprockets has three teeth 5|. Said teeth 5| are adapted to engage the 8X1 tremities 42-42 of the crossmembers 4la-4lb, so that when the sprockets 50 are turned in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 7 the teeth 5.|-5.l of said sprockets will engage the extermities 42-42 of at least one of the cross members 4ila-4lb to move the belts 40-40 in the direction of the arrows in Figure '7. That is to say, counterclockwise rotation of the sprockets 50-50 will move the bottles 31-31 toward the left as the parts are viewed in Figure 7, that is, ,to the right as the parts are viewed in Figures 1 and '3. 7

Each of the conveyers 3-2, 33, 34, 351s adapted to be moved in a step by step movement by rotation of a corresponding shaft 48 and its corresponding sprockets 50-50. For the purpose of communicating rotary motion selectively to each of the various shafts 48' associated with the conveyers 32., 33,, 34, 3.5 a pin and slot connection is provided. Referring particularly to Figures 3, 6, 7 and 8, it will be noted that each shaft 48 is provided with a cross pin 52 (Figure 7.) adapted to be :removably received within a slot 53 (Figure 8) in. astud '54, which studs are rotatably mounted about axes fixed relative to the casing Each of said studs has rigidly connected thereto a sprocket; 55. Each of the sprockets 55 is adapted to be connected to its own individual driving spindle by means of a sprocket chain. The various sprocket chains are indicated by the numerals 56 (connected to the sprocket for driving the conveyer 32), 51 (connected to the sprocket for driving the conveyer 33), 58 (connected to the sprocket for driving the conveyer 34) and 59 (connected to the sprocket for driving the conveyer 35). The spindle for driving the sprocket chain 56 is indicated by the numeral 60, the spindle for driving the sprocket chain 51 is indicated by the numeral 5|, the spindle for driving the sprocket chain 58 is indicated by the numeral 62 and the spindle for driving the sprocket chain 59 is indicated by the numeral 63, each of said spindles being provided with a sprocket for connection to its corresponding sprocket chain. Said spindles are mounted in bearings stationarily carried with respect to the casing 20.

Said spindles 69, 6|, 62, 63 are adapted to be selectively driven by a motor 64. Said motor 54 is mounted to move as an entity in a movement of revolution about the axis 65 (Fig. 9), said motor being mounted on a carriage 66 which includes a crescent-shaped member 61 (Figs. 9, 10 and 11). Said crescent-shaped member as it swings is adapted to have a sliding movement within corner slots in a bracket, indicated as a whole by the numeral 68, which is stationarily mounted with respect to the casing 28 of the refrigerator. The shaft 69 of the motor 64 is connected through the reduction gearing (not illustrated) to the stub shaft 10, which terminates in the cross tongue H (Figs. 9, 10 and 11) Said cross tongue H has a transverse dimension not greater than the corresponding dimension of the crescent-shaped member 61. By mechanism which will be described presently, the long dimension of the cross tongue II when at rest will always be disposed in alignment with the crescent-shaped member 61. The left-hand end (as viewed in Figure 9) of each of said spindles 69, GI, 62 and 63 is provided with a slot adapted to slidably receive the crescent-shaped member 61 and the cross tongue H. As will appear presently, each of said spindles when at rest has its slot positioned in alignment with the long dimension of the crescent-shaped member 61 and the long dimension of the cross tongue II. It will be evident that by swinging the carriage 66 about the axis 85, the stub shaft 18 may be brought into cooperative relationship selectively with any one of the spindles 60, 6| 62, 63.

By reason of the construction illustrated and described, rotation of the stub shaft 10 will communicate a movement of rotation to any selected one of the spindles 60, 6|, 62, 63, depending upon the angular position of the carriage 66 carrying the motor 64. Consequently, by selecting the angular position of the carriage 66, rotation may be communicated to the corresponding spindle 69, 6!, 62, 63, which rotation will communicate movement to the corresponding conveyer 32, 33, 34, 35,respectively.

The means for swinging the carriage 66 with its motor 64 into its various angular positions is illustrated in Figures 2 and 5. Referring particularly to Figure 2, the front wall of the casing 28 is provide dwith a recess 12 for the reception of a coin-controlled apparatus, indicated as a whole by the numeral 13. (Fig. 2). Said apparatus 13 is presentedto the front face of the 6. refrigerator and extends through an aperture 14 provided in the right-hand door 24 as the parts are viewed in Figure 1. Said apparatus 13 fits within the aperture 14 in such a way as to permit the free swinging of said door 24. Extending through said apparatus 13 is the shaft 15 (Figure 2) having at its forward extremity the operating lever 16. The shaft 15 at its other end is provided with gearing, indicated by the numeral 11, adapted to communicate a movement of rotation to the shaft 18. Said shaft 18 is provided with the arm 19, the outer extremity of which is connected to the rod or link 80, which is swingingly connected to a pin 8| (Figure 9) loosely connected to the carriage 86 which carries the motor 64. By moving the lever 16 about the axis of the shaft 15, the motor 64 may be swung to predetermined positions about the axis of swing 65 to position the stub shaft 18 for cooperative relationship with any selected one of the spindles 60, BI, 62, 63.

Mounted upon the stub shaft '18 of the motor 64 is a cam 82 (Figs. 9 and 13). Said cam 82 has a raised portion 83 adapted to, control a pin 84 which forms part of a two-way switch 85, the functions of which will be described presently. Said cam 82 is also provided with a notched portion providing the shoulder 86. adapted to be engaged by the extremity of a detent member 81. Said detent member 81 is the armature of a solenoid 88, which will be referred to herein as a brake and detent solenoid. Also responsive to the solenoid 88 is the armature 89 (Figures 12 and 13), which carries at its outer extremity the brake shoe 90 adapted to cooperate with a brake disk 9! fast on the shaft 69 of the motor 64. The armatures 81 and 89 of the solenoid 88 are urged outwardly in opposite directions by means of the spring 92, so that the extremity of the armature 81 will be in stopping relationship with the cam 82 on the stub shaft 10 and the brake shoe of the armature 89 will be in braking relationship with the brake disk 9| of the shaft of the motor 64. Through electrical connections, which will be described presently, the solenoid 88 may be energized to draw inwardly its armatures 81 and 89 whereby to release the detent 8'! from the cam 82 and stub shaft 19 and to release the brake shoe 96 from the disk 9| on shaft of the motor 64. When said solenoid 88 is deenergized, the detent 81 will prevent the cam 82 from moving in a counterclockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 13, and in this position the raised portion 83 of said cam 82 will engage the pin 84 of the two-Way switch 85, whereby the parts will be positioned for operation when a coin or token is deposited in the token-responsive apparatus '13, as will be described presently. At this time also, that is-when the solenoid 88 is deenergized, the brake shoe 99 will prevent rotation of the shaft 69 of the motor 64.

The present invention has provision for the return of a coin or token in the event that a bottle has not been delivered before the termination of a certain amount of rotation of a spindle 60, 6|, 62 or 63. Figures 12, 14 and 18 show a coin return switch 93 which is normally open but which is closed during a portion of the rotation of the motor shaft 69 and the accompanying rotation of the particular spindle 68, 6|, 62, 63 which is connected to said motor shaft.

As shown in Figure 14, the coin return switch 93 is provided with the movable pin 94. Said pin 94 is normally held upwardly by the rack 95, which is biased upwardly by the spring 36. Said rack 95 is provided with-the shoulders :91-?9FI adapted to be engaged by .a portion of the par.- ticular spindle -60, =65, 62, 63 which :is being rotatedby the motor '64. .-B y reference to figures 19 and 14, it will be noted that each -,of :said spindles is cut away at :the region thereof adjacent :to the rack 95 to leave a diametrical neck portion 98. One extremity of said neckportion extends :to the circumference .of its corresponding spindle. The other end of said :neckportion ;9B,, ho.wever, stops short of the circumference of its corresponding spindle as indicated by the numerals 89-99. Each neck portion .98 when rotated in acounterclockwise direction as the parts :are viewed in Figure 14 is adapted to rotate ,ior approximately three-fourths of a revolution from the indicated in .Figure 1 4 before engaging :a shoulder 91 of the rack 95. Enga ement :of the neck portion 98 of any of the :spindles with its 01138- sponding shoulder 9-1 will result in the lowering of the rack 95, causing the closure of the coin returnswitch 93. The period of closure "of said coin return switch 93 will continue :until said neck portion 98 clears its COII-GSDOIIdlHgzShOlll-dfil 91, after which the rack 95 will bereturnedto its uppermost position, returning the coin control switch 93 to its normally open position.

As will be explained when the mode of opera- -tion of the structure isdescribed, the :present -in-. 'vention provides mechanism whereby after .a customer has preselected the angular position of the motor 84 (Fig. .9), putting said motor into driving relationship with a selected :one of the spindles '60, BI, 62, 63,, and has deposited a coin or token into the apparatus, the conveyor 32,33,

34, 35, connectedrespectively to 12, spindle 60, 1, .62, 63, will be moved .througha predetermined step to move a bottle \toward the :leftras the parts are viewed in Figures 6 and fl, that is-towar.d the right as theparts areviewed in Figures :1 and 3, theend of said step being determined by the deenergization-of the motor Stand-the applica-. tion of the brake shoe '99 to the :brake :disk .9.I (Fig. 13). The-step of movementof the .par.tiou lar conveyor 3-2, 33, 34, 35 to move :its load .of

.bottles to the 'leftas theparts are viewed in Eig- .ures 6 and 7 causes the dropping ofone of said bottles into a chute, indicated by the numeral 400, defined by the two side walls I01! and Illla (Figs. 1,3 and .6) and-end walls L02 CFig-S). .As

noted above, the body portion 38 of .one bottleis disposed in one direction andtheibodyiportion of the next adjacent bottle is disposedjn the :opposite direction as shown in Figures16, 7 and '15.

Disposed inthe chute IIlfl areazplurality ofspring brakes I63, I84, I85, I06 positioned :to receive bottles discharged respectively ,from :the .conveyers 32, 33, 34, '35. Each ofsaid :spring brakes I03, I04, I05, I06 is a leaf spring extending across the chute I00, each of said leaf springs being supported at its middle whereby to iform, :in eifect, two cantilever springs bowed downwardly from the middle. Said cantilever vsprings .are indicated in Figure '5 by the reference znumerals .Ill3a, Ill-3b, I04a, 104b, I650, 05b and 10511 sand IBBb. A bottle deposited :upon the :spring tilfla or I031) of the uppermost spring jbrake Elli-3 will how that particular spring-downwardlyftomermit the passage of the bottledepositedrthereon,rizturning it into a vertical position, bottom :down,.:and

the springs below it will bowsand permitthepasi sage of said bottle. :Bottlespassing'zthezsprings I03a, IMa, 35a, 1106a will gravitate to the :downingthe sprin s mat, returne Illfibwillsravitatemore or less directly to said chute I68. Located in said chute I08 is the coin collector switch I09 located in a position to be operated by a bottle passingdown through the chute I98. Said switch IE9 is biased to open position and is closed while a bottle is passing said switch-downwardly through the chute I83. Located at the bottom of the chute I08 is the trap door He (Figure 4) biased to closed position to minimize the escape of cooled air from the compartment 2 I.

The end walls I62 of the chute Illil are of arouate shape .to conform to the usual cylindrical surface of bottles and are provided with cushioning :members I I I. As bottles pass the springs 103a, .IMa, Itl'm, Iota or I931), I641), I051 I662) they will be turned from horizontal position into a vertical positionand will be delivered downwardly through the chute I98 in :a vertical position. Below the trap door H0 is an inclined chute I I2 (Figure 4),. Said chute I l2 adjacent to its lower end is provided with a downwardly curved portion I I3 and is provided at its end with an inclined wall H4 which locates the bottle in a position inclined to the vertical as illustrated in Figure 4. The casing of the refrigerator is provided with a window II5 through which the bottle maybe removed.

Figure 16 illustrates mechanism for the handling of a coin or token after it has been deposited into the refrigerator, determining whether said coin or token should be rejected because spurious or for some other reason, or whether said token should be returned to the customer for the reason that there was no bottle in the refrigerator in the group selected by the customer, or whether the token should be deposited in a coin collector box.

Referring first to Figure 1 the token responsive apparatus I3 is provided with the coin re ceiving slot I I6 and a coin returncup I-Il.

Referring now to Figure 16, the numeral H8 indicates a conduit for the passage of a coin or token deposited into the slot H6. The coin in passing through the conduit ,I-I-8 will pass the rejector mechanism H 9. ,Said rejector mechanism is not illustrated in detail and need not be described in detail for the reason that .rejector mechanism for detecting and rejecting spurious coins is well known to those skilled in the art and readily available in the market. A coin or .token rejected bythe mechanism -II9 may be delivered to the return cup I H or to some other receptacle through a conduit which need .not'be described herein inasmuch as it forms no part of the present invention.

Disposed in the "path :of :a coin descending through the conduit U8 is the'rocking arm I23 mountedin the upstanding plate I2 I. Extending iromthetwo sides of said rocking arm I 20 are the two-extremities of a bar I22, saidtwo extremities being connected to the armatures I23 and I24 responsiverespectively to the solenoids 125 and I26. .Located in the outerextremityof the rocking arm I2llis a slot I21. Depending from said rocking-arm IZG-are'thespaced wings I28-I28. Said slot I21 and the spaced win s 128-428 "are adapted to receive a coin dropped'through the conduit I I8. Said rocking armIZfl is biased to a mid-position in which the wings I28-I-23 are ,vertically disposed. The numeral :I29 indicates a -fixedly:mounted bracket;having the vertical .arm I30 and thehorizontal arm ;I3 I. When the rock- .ingarm I-2Il is in its mid-position, a coin, indicated bylthenumeral I 32, will-rest upon the'horizontal arm 1:31. Disposedin position :to contact the edge of a coin I32 located between the wings I28I28 and resting upon the horizontal arm I3! is the lever I33, which controls a coin switch indicated as a whole by the numeral I34. The details of the coin switch need not be described herein inasmuch as coin switches suitable for the purpose are readily available. It is suflicient to say that when there is no coin in the space between the wings I28-I28 said coin switch I34 will be open. However, when a coin I32 is located between the wings I28I28, said coin, by reason of its engagement with the lever I33, will hold said switch I34 in closed position.

Disposed upon one side of the horizontal arm I3I of the bracket I29 is. the coin collector box I35, and located upon the other side of said arm I3I is the coin return chute I36. When the solenoid I26 is energized to rock the arm I and the wings I28 toward the coin collector box I35, the coin I32 will be moved past the arm I3I whereby said coin will drop into said coin collector box I35. 011 the other hand, if the coin return solenoid I is energized to rock the arm I20 toward the coin return chute I36, the coin I32 will drop into said chute I36 to be returned to the coin return cup II1 (Fig. l).

Theelectrical circuits for causing operation of the instrumentalities above described is illustratecl diagrammatically in Figure 18, in which the numerals I31, I33 indicate the two wires of an electric circuit. Connected across the wires I31, I38 is the bottle-operated switch I09 biased to open position but closed momentarily when a bottle passes down through a chute I08 (Fig. 4).

Said switch I06 is in circuit with the solenoid I26 (Fig. 16). Also connected across the wires I31, I38 is the circuit including the coin return switch 93 and the solenoid I25. Connected continuously across the wires I31, I38 is the solenoid of the token rejector mechanism H9.

The motor 64 has one of its terminals connected to the wire I38 and the other of its terminals connected to the binding post I39. Circuit may be traced from the binding post I through two paths, (a) the conductor I40, the coin responsive switch I34, the normally closed contacts I4I of the two-way switch 85 to the set of contacts I43, and (b) through the normally open contacts I42 of the two-way switch 85 to the set of contacts I43. The brake and detent solenoid 86 is connected across the terminals of the motor 64. A swinging contact I44 moves with the swinging motor.64, so that circuit through said motor is completed only when said motor is in position to have driving relationship with one of the conveyers 32, 33, 34, 35.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 19, mechanism is provided for receiving and storing empty bottles. Located in the compartment 22 are a pair of turntables I45I45 mounted to rotate about vertical axes. The doorways 2121 are located symmetrically in front of said turntables, which doorways 2121 as well as the doorway II5.are located in the front wall 25 which closes the compartment 22. Each of the doorways 21 is adapted to be closed by a swinging door I46 (Figs. 1 and 19). Disposed adjacent each of said turntables there is provided a low peripheral wall or guard rail I45a, which is open to permit swinging movement of the adjacent door 21 when a bottle is inserted therethrough, said rails I45a being fixed in the casing. Each of said doors I46 is springpressed to closed position. The function of each door I46 is not only to provide a closure for the corresponding open doorway 21 but also to pro- Vide motive means for rotating the corresponding 10 turntable I45 when an empty bottle is placed upon said turntable.- It will be observed that when a door I46 is pushed inwardly by a bottle, the swinging edge of said door will in its closing movement communicate a moment of force to the bottle, urging said bottle toward the right as the parts are viewed in Figures 1 and 19. The bottle, by reason of its engagement with the turntable I45 and by reason of its engagement with the next adjacent bottle in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 19,

will turn the corresponding turntable I45 in a counter-clockwise direction until the swinging door I46 can clear the bottle last introduced and return to its closed position.

The mode of operation of the above described embodiment of the present invention is substantially as follows:

In loading the casing 20 the service man will swing open the doors 24-24 and will load bottles upon the various conveyers 32, 33, 34, 35 nesting said bottles with the-necks of adjacent bottles facing in opposite directions in the manner illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 15. The brands of the bottles on the various conveyers may be different, so that a plurality of brands may be selectably dispensed by the apparatus. The service man will have access to the compartment 22 whereby to remove any empty bottles that are located therein, said access being had by swinging the front wall 25 forwardly. After bottles have been loaded upon said conveyers the doors 24-24 will be closed and locked. Refrigerated air will be delivered from the fan 3! past the cooling coil 23 (Figures 1 and 2) through the conduit 30a to the top of the refrigerator and thence downwardly through the storage compartment 2I and conduit 3012 back to the fan 3I.

A customer may preselect the brand of bottle that he desires by moving the lever 16 on the front of the apparatus, (Figures 1 and 5). As shown in Figure 2, movement of the lever 16 will cause rotation of the shaft 15, adjusting theaxial position of the carriage 66 carrying the motor 64. Asillustrated in Figure 9, the axial adjustment of the carriage 66 about the axis will bring the tongue 1I into cooperative relationship with one or another of the spindles 60, 6|, 62, 63, which spindles are connected, respectively, in driving relationship with the conveyers 32, 33, 34, 35. After the customer has positioned the lever 16 to provide an operative connection between the motor 64 and the conveyer bearing the particular brand of bottled beverage that the customer desires, the customer will deposit a coin in the coin slot II6. Said coin will travel down through the chute II8 past the coin rejector mechanism II9. If said coin should be spurious it will be rejected and delivered either to the coin return cup H1 or to some other receptacle (not illustrated).

If the coin has successfully passed the coin rejecting mechanism II 9 it will be delivered to the slot I 21 in the rocking arm I20 and will come to rest upon the arm I3I of the bracket I29, being located between the spaced wings I28--I28 which depend from the rocking arm I20. The presence of a coin (indicated by the numeral I32 in Fig. 16) will result in the closure of the coin switch I34. By reference to Figure 18 it will be noted that closure of the coin switch I34 completes a circuit from the wire I38 through the motor 64, through'the coin switch I34 and the normally closed contacts I4I of the two-way switch to one of the contacts I43 and thence through the contact I44 to the wire I31. Unless llr. the motor 84 has been swung to the correct position to' have driving relationship with one of the conveyers 32, 33, 34 or 35, the contact I44- will not engage one of the contacts I43 and the motor 64 will not start. The customer will thus be put on notice to adjust the lever I6. Any well known mean may be utilized to pilot said lever 16 into any selected position after it has been moved into adjacency thereto. Completion of the circuit last traced will have two results, one being to energize the brake and detent solenoid 83 (Figs. 13 and 18), withdrawing the detent 81 (Figure 13) from the cam 82 and withdrawing the brake shoe 9!) from the brake disk 9| of the motor 64. Completion of said circuit will also have the result of energizing the motor 64. Said motor will therefore be set into operation, rotating the cam 82 located upon the stub shaft 10', thereby releasing the pin 84 of the two-way switch 85 (Fig. 13),. opening the normally closed contacts I4I thereof and closing the normally open contacts I42 thereof (Fig. 18). of said motor 64 will result in the rotation of the particular spindle 69, BI, 62, 63 (Fig. 9) with which it has driving relationship, communicating a driving movement to the corresponding conveyer 32, 33, 34, 35, carrying the bottles thereon toward the left as the parts are viewed in Figures 6 and '7--that is, toward the right as the parts are viewed in Figures 1 and 3. The pitch diameters of the sprockets carried by the spindles 69,. 6|, 62, 63 willbe so related to the corresponding sprockets associated with the respective conveyers 32, 33, 34', 35 that the amount of rotation communicated to one of the spindles Rotation referred to will move the corresponding conveyer a suiiicient distance to cause one bottle to fall away from that particular conveyer into the chute I99. Rotation of theparticular spindle set in motion by rotation of the motor 64 will cause movement of the neck portion 98' of that particular spindle, the rotation starting from the positions illustrated in Figure 14 and proceeding in a counter-clockwise direction. After the neck portion 98 of the particular spindle set into ro- &

tation has engaged its corresponding shoulder 91 of the rack 95 it will move said rack 95 downwardly, allowing the pin 94 of the coin return switch 93 to drop, closing said switch 93. The period of time required for the particular neck portion 98' of a rotating spindle to reach and push down a shoulder 91 of the rack 95- will be amply sufficient to permit a bottle deposited from a conveyer 32, 33, 34 or 35 to gravitate past the coin collectors'witch I99, closing said switch prior to close of switch 93. Consequently, under normal operation the coin collector switch I09 will be closed and will energize the solenoid I23 (Figs. 16 and 18'), causing the rocking of the arm I29 to move the coin I32 past the stationary arm I3 I, allowing it to drop into the coin collector box' I35. The particular spindle 60, 6I, 62,v 63 connected to the motor 64 will continue its ro tation until the high spot 83 of the cam 82 reaches the position to raise the pin 84 (Fig. 13), which will restore the two-way switch to its normal position in which the normally closed contacts I4I are in engagement and the normally open contacts I42 are disengaged. Since at this instant there is no coin in position to close the switch I34, the motor will be deenergized and at the same instant the brake and detent solenoid 88 will be deenergized, whereby the detent 81 will be moved to the left as the parts are viewed in Figure 13, effectually stopping any further forward movement of the stub shaft it of the motor 64. The armature 89 will at the same instant be moved to the right, bringing the brake shoe 99 into-braking relationship with the brake disk 9| of the motor 64. With the motor shaft stopped in the position just described, the tongue II willbe disposed in alignment with the long dimension of the crescent-shaped member 61, whereby the carriage 66 carrying the motor 64 and the crescent-shaped member 61 may be swung about the axis 65 at the option of the customer to position the tongue 'II in cooperative relationship with any of the spindles 69, 5!, 52 and 63.

In the event that the supply of bottles should have been exhausted from the particular conveyer chosen by the customer, the following action will occur: After thecustomer has deposited a coin in the coin receiving slot I I9 said coin will take its course down through the conduit I I 8 past the coin rejecting mechanism II9 into the slot I2! in the rocking arm I20, coming to rest upon the stationary arm I3'I of the bracket I29 and moving the coin switch I34 to closed position. This will energize the motor 64 as above described, and will also energize the brake and detent solenoid 88,. whereby (Fig; 13) the detent 81 will be withdrawn from the shoulder 86 of the cam 82 and the brakeshoe 90- will be drawn out of braking relationship with the brake disk 9| of the motor 64. The motor 64 will be set into rotation rotating the stub shaft 10 and the cam 82 in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 13. The particular spindle 69, GI, 62, 63 connected to the motor 64 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed inFi'gure 14, whereby the portion 98 thereof will, after aboutthree-fourths of arevolution, engage a shoulder 9'I of the rack 95, pushing said rack downwardly to allow the normally open coin return switch 93 to close, resulting in the energization of the solenoid I25 (Figs. 16 and 18), rocking the arm I 20 toward the coin return chute I36, whereby the coin disposed therein will become free from the stationary arm I3-I and will drop into said chute I36, whence it will gravitate to the coin return cup 1. The motor 64 will continue to operate until the cam 82 reaches the position shown in Figure 13', in which the pin 84 is raised, operating the two-way switch 85 to restore the switch contacts I42 to their normally open position and restoring the normally closed contacts I H to their closed position. At this time the brake and detent solenoid is also deenergized, as above described, whereby the detent 87 is moved to obstructing relationship with the cam 82 to prevent further forward rotation thereof and the brake shoe 99' is moved into braking relationship with the brake disk 9| to effectually stop the drift of the motor 64.

After a customer has emptied a bottle which he has received from the apparatus, as above described, he will dispose of said bottle by thrusting it into either one of the doorways 21 of the dead storage compartment 22. The customer will put the bottle within the perimeter of the corresponding turntable I 45, and the corresponding door I46, in closing under the influence of its spring, will engage the bottle, exerting a push thereon having a component in a direction circumferentially of the turntable I45, moving said turntable in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed Figure 19. The corresponding door M6 will be swung shut, and the empty bottles will therefore be out of sight.

Though a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a plurality of endless conveyers each having dividing means for separating articles to be dispensed, motive means, separate drive means for each conveyor, means for movably mounting said motive means to selectively engage the motive means to any one of said drive means, means for definitely stopping said motive means after a predetermined step of movement of said motive means, and coincontrolled mechanism for controlling energization of said motive means and for releasing said stopping means at the start of said stepof movement.

2. In combination, in dispensing apparatus, a I

plurality of endless conveyers each having driving means and dividing means for separating articles to be dispensed, an electric motor and means for moving said motor to place it in driving relationship selectably with any of said conveyer driving means, means for definitely stopping said motor after said motor has driven a conveyer throughout a definite step of movement, and coincontrolled mechanism for controlling energization of said motor and for releasing said stopping means at the start of said step of movement. I

3. In combination, in dispensing apparatus, a plurality of endless conveyers each having driving means and dividing means for separating articles to be dispensed, an electric motor, carrying means for said motor, said carrying means being swingingly mounted and adapted to place said motor in cooperative relationship selectably with any of said conveyer driving means, and coin-controlled mechanism for controlling energization of said motor to communicate a definite step of movement to the particular conveyer with which it is in cooperative relationship.

4. In combination, in dispensing apparatus, a plurality of endless conveyers each having dividing means for separating articles to be dispensed, an electrical motor, means for swingingly supporting said motor and for guiding movement of said motor in a single plane, a plurality of spindles each connected with a corresponding one of said conveyers, said motor having a shaft adapted to be positioned in driving relationship selectably with any one of said spindles, and coin-controlled mechanism for controlling energiz-ation of said motor and for insuring that said motor shaft is stopped after each energization at a predetermined poini; in its rotation.

5. In dispensing apparatus, in combination, an endless conveyer, means for definitely separating articles to be dispensed from said conveyer, an electric motor adapted to be connected to said conveyer, a brake for said motor, a cam adapted to be positively rotated by said motor, a detent for definitely stopping rotation of said cam, electromagnetic means for controlling said brake and said detent, a two-way switch having a pair of normally closed contacts and a pair of normally open contacts, a coin controlled switch for energizing said motor and said electromagnetic means through said normally closed contacts, said cam being operative to open said normally closed contacts and to close said normally open contacts to continue energization of the motor, coin return mechanism operative by said motor after a predetermined movement of said conveyer to '14 return a coin to a region accessible from the outside of said apparatus, and coin collector mechanism responsive to the passage of one of said articles to be dispensed, said coin return mechanism and said coin collector mechanism having a timed relationship whereby said coin collector mechanism will operate prior to the operation of said coin return mechanism after each energization of said motor in the event that an article has been dispensed.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a plurality of frames slidably mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom, each frame having an endless conveyer thereon for supporting articles to be dispensed, dispensing means for operating the selected conveyer for dispensing articles from the selected frame, interlock means for rendering the conveyers of non-selected frames immovable during dispensing from the selected frame, and a readily disconnectable driving connection between said dispensing means and the conveyer of each frame for moving said conveyers a pre determined amount.

7. A conveying device for articles to be dis pensed comprising a frame, shafts supported by said frame, a pair of spaced belts disposed as an endless conveyer driven by one of said shafts, and supporting means for said articles disposed between and secured to said belts, said supporting means comprising a plurality of cleats, said cleats having an upstanding flange along each edge and extending partway of the length of the cleat, the flanges of adjacent cleats being adjacent each other in pairs whereby adjacent articles to be dispensed are arranged in staggered relation to each other.

8. A conveying device for articles to be dispensed comprising a frame, shafts supported by said frame, sprockets on said shafts, a pair of spaced belts disposed as an endless conveyer driven by one of said shafts, and supporting means for said articles disposed between and secured to said belts, said supporting means comprising a plurality of cleats, said cleats having an upstanding flange along each edge and extending partway of the length of the cleat, the flanges of adjacent cleats being adjacent each other in pairs, the ends of the cleats being flattened and extending beyond said belts to form sprocket engaging members.

9. A conveying device for articles to be dispensed comprising a frame, shafts supported by said frame, sprockets on said shafts, a pair of spaced belts disposed as an endless conveyer driven by one of said shafts, and supporting means for said articles disposed between and secured to belts, said supporting means comprising a plurality of cleats, said cleats having an upstanding flange along each edge and extending partway of the length of the cleat, the flanges of adjacent cleats being adjacent each other in pairs, the ends of the cleats being flattened and extending beyond said belts to form sprocket engaging members, the frame having supporting means for said belts, said means comprising supporting members above said shafts engaged by the under sides of said cleats, and supporting members below said shafts engaged by the opposite sides of said cleats, the last named supporting members engaging the ends of said cleats.

THOMAS F. HAMILTON.

(References on following page) 15 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thefile' of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Corbett Dec. 10, 1889 Chisholm Apr. 27, 1909 Bishop June 1', 1909 Arnold Feb. 8, 1910 Cawley July 16, 1912 Frick Aug; 25, 1914 Bachma'n Jan; 19, 1915 Welsh Mar. 7, 1916 Mioton Mar. 7, 1916 Korud. Aug. 1,v 19-16 Wineberg Apr; 1, 1919 Holland Feb. 20,1923 Morton Aug, 14, 1923 Tamborello Dec. 25, 1923 Callahan Feb. 12, 1924 Vaughan Mar. 1, 1927 Cunningham Jan. 3,1928 Baker Jan. 29, 1929 Schantz Aug. 6, 1929 Anderson Apr. 23, 1935 Radtke June 11, 1935 Number Number 163,825 335,914 353,428

16 Name Date 'llo-urv-il-le-- Oct. 27, 1936 Smith Nov. 15, 1938 Bensemanrr Apr. 11, 1939 McMahon et a1-. Nov. 21, 1939 Garner Jan. 16, 1940 Mills Feb. 6, 1940 Mullins Apr. 8, 1941 Waitzman Apr. 22, 1941 Tratsch July 15, 194| Grau Dec. 16, 1941 Baxter et a1 Jan. 27, 1942 Miller Feb. 10, 1942 Tone Apr. 21, 1942 Clem July 6, 1943 Jetseck etal Sept. 21, 1943 Weiler Aug. 1, 1944 Wilsey Sept. 26, 1944 Stewart June 26, 1945 Thompson et a1 Jan. 8, 1946 Hamilton Jan. 22, 194 6 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 1, 1921 GYeatLBritain Sept. 29, 1930 Great Britain July 14, 1941 

